Librarsi will bid for late season black-type honours at Te Rapa and in the process attempt to head toward new term targets with a perfect record.
The Gerry Harvey-bred and owned daughter of Reliable Man couldn’t have been more impressive on debut and will bid to add to Westbury Stud’s record in Saturday’s Listed Ryder Stakes.
The Karaka nursery first won the event in 2014 with Libretist’s Niki Piki Milo and Swiss Ace struck the following year with Secret Spirit. Associate sire El Roca was then on the board with Ima Roca Bee in 2021.
Librarsi was successful at the first time of asking at Otaki last month, racing on the pace under jockey Craig Grylls before forging clear for an effortless victory over 1100 metres.
“She hadn’t trialled but we had a private opinion of her and I expected her to win,” trainer Allan Sharrock said.
Librarsi was subsequently given a trial at Foxton to keep her up to the mark for the Ryder Stakes, transferred north following the abandonment of its original home at Otaki.
She was ridden back in the field for educational purposes and ran home without being pressured to finish fourth.
“Craig Grylls was pretty happy with her first-up win and was coming to Otaki to ride her so that tells you she gave him a nice feel,” Sharrock said.
Librarsi first turned the New Plymouth trainer’s head when she was offered by Westbury Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka where she failed to meet her $50,000 reserve.
“I saw her at the Ready To Run Sale, she was passed in and had run an attractive time and looked a power pack,” Sharrock said.
“I did a bit of fishing with Russell (Warwick, Westbury Stud General Manager) and he said we are going to keep her and asked if I would like to train her, so that is how that eventuated.
“She is very straight forward and does everything right. She’s a treasure and easy to train.”
Librarsi is out of the winning General Nediym mare Tennessee Love, who is a half-sister to Aloha, successful in an edition of the G1 Coolmore Classic and also the dam of the multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Libertini.
Meanwhile at Kembla Grange, another smart debut winner by Reliable Man will step out over 1400 metres with Silvakia looking to make it two on the bounce.
She did a lot of work at Hawkesbury to cross the field and lead from the outside gate and comfortably held off allcomers in the run home.
“She went terrific and it’s not an easy thing to do to use a bit of petrol early and then show such a good kick in the straight,” trainer Mark Newnham said.
“I really think she is going to be a stakes class filly in the autumn, she is coming on in leaps and bounds.”
Newnham purchased Silvakia for $80,000 out of Westbury’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2021. The filly is the first winner for the Encosta De Lago mare Slovakian.
At Moonee Valley, talented High Chaparral gelding D’Aguilar will chase his seventh career success from just 11 appearances for trainer Paddy Payne when he steps out over 2040 metres.
Out of a three-quarter sister to two-time Group 1 winner Lotteria, D’Aguilar was secured by respected agent John Foote for $130,000 out of Westbury’s Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka.
Reliable Man five-year-old Excelman will kick off a new campaign for trainer Richard Laming over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm off the back of consecutive trial placings.
The winner of four races and one at the distance, he was sold by Westbury to Laming for A$400,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Night’s Watch.